Imagine being able to foresee danger — to be able to anticipate the possibility of a car accident before it happens. Thanks to artificial intelligence, that’s now possible with new technology being tested in Northam, north-east of Perth, that could change the way road safety is tackled across WA. Already being used in NSW, these NearMiss cameras use AI video analysis software and portable cameras to measure speed and distances between vehicles, automatically classifying and grading the severity of near misses on the roads. That information can then be accessed by the commissioning authority — like the Shire of Northam — and analysed and assessed to upgrade or make improvements to road infrastructure so that the chance of accidents is minimised at that location. The sensormine technology is supplied by LAB3, while the three-month trial in Northam is costing $90,000. “The video is captured on the camera and sent to our secure portal where it can be reviewed by road safety designers to improve intersections,” LAB3 director Alain Blanchette said. “Sensormine empowers councils and road authorities to proactively identify and address problem spots, significantly reducing the risk of serious accidents. “All footage is blurred so it stays anonymous.” Northam council has worked with WALGA and the Road Safety Commission to set up the trial at a priority intersection of Newcastle Road and Fitzgerald and Gairdner streets. Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the new technology was a “game changer for local governments”. “Anyone goes to local government and notifies them about a problematic intersection in the area,” he said. “This allows you to put a camera there pretty quickly and get real-time reporting to validate concerns, and most importantly after that, help local communities and government build cases and provide evidence to secure funding to fix the intersection. “Intersections are big ones for crash severity and frequency. “To fix an intersection you have to build a case to get the funding to fix it — so this helps gathering that evidence. “It’s a game changer for local government.” Mr Warner said it was hoped this new technology could be used across the State. “Once the results of Northam come out, there will be a much bigger demand from local government to deploy these,” he said. “We’re prepared to fund more of these cameras through the road trauma trust account. “This will support road safety. “The vision I have is that we have a bank of these trailers that we can farm out to local communities that say they’ve got a problem at an intersection and where this could help.” The WA Government is also in the process of leasing three new mobile, point-to-point speed cameras to deploy on WA roads. It’s understood a contract, worth about $20 million, will be awarded in October.